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Tag: Boko

  • The face of Boko Haram?

    The face of Boko Haram?

    As the saying goes, as long as there are still lice in the hair, the finger nails can never be free of blood. That seems to be the case with Nigeria and our home grown terrorist organization called Boko Haram.

    Each time we pretended the threat was over or we are on top of the security situation, the group, believed to be linked to the worldwide terror network of Al Qeada either comes out smoking or throw up another trick.

    You remember a couple of weeks ago they said they were ready for peace talk with the Federal Government which sent Aso Rock into wild jubilation, only for them to strike few days later at the home of Major General Muhammed Shuwa (retd) in Maiduguri, Borno State, snuffing the life out of the civil war hero.

    Their offer of peace talk, blindly embraced by the Federal Government has been neither here nor there since the announcement was made. The man they nominated to be their negotiator-in-chief, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), a former military Head of State as you know, has declined the nomination. Saudi Arabia, their chosen venue for the peace parley has not said anything about the proposed peace talk, suggesting that the Arab country probably doesn’t know anything about it.

    With the government’s optimism and initial embrace of the offer of peace talk by Boko Haram driven, from my own view, by naivety, President Goodluck Jonathan has now come out to say that no talk is on-going with the terrorists who he says are faceless. Informed sources within his government were reported to have said that the Federal Government was not sure of the position of Saudi Arabia on the issue.

    So we are back to status quo ante.

    Having said so much about Boko Haram and the latest offer of peace talk, it would have been ideal to move to other issues but then as stated above, as long as lice are still in the hair…

    Listening to a former governor of Yobe State and now a Senator representing Yobe East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim, one is left with no option than to revisit the issue of Boko Haram.

    Speaking on the floor of the Senate penultimate week while contributing to debate on a motion on the state of insecurity and banditry in Maru village in Zamfara State, Senator Ibrahim gave a robust defence of Boko Haram and explained why the terrorists took up arms against the Nigerian state.

    Hear him: “Boko Haram is just like any religious sect; it has existed for ages. It is not a new phenomenon altogether, but it is the activities of security agencies, particularly the police, that pushed the Boko Haram people to the wall by killing their leaders; killing thousands of other innocent people. That is what forced them to come out against the Nigerian state”.

    Further blaming security agencies for causing Boko Haram insurgency, Ibrahim said; “they are killing people; many people, day in, day out. If one army officer is killed in an area, they will come and cordon off the whole place and kill people they can get hold of and then burn all property in that area. What has property got to do with people killing security agents on the road? If a security agent was killed on patrol, they will come and burn the whole area”.

    While calling on the head of the various security agencies including the National Security Adviser to look into the activities of their agents regarding the Boko Haram issue, Senator Ibrahim surprisingly couldn’t find any harsh word to say on the terrorists.

    I’ve heard his kind of argument before especially from people around the North east where the insurgency is at its fiercest. While one could understand where they were coming from, it is hard to accept their explanation.

    Recall that a group that calls itself Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought had equally blamed the security agencies for driving Boko Haram into terrorism. In fact they called for the withdrawal of the troops.

    If one could excuse the ordinary person in the Borno/Yobe axis and the self-serving Leaders of Thought having this kind of mentality, how do you explain it when a two term governor of one of the most affected States who is now a serving Senator of the Federal Republic is giving this kind of justification for terror. This is bad and spells danger for Nigeria if such a highly placed personality, a supposedly distinguish public officer is saying this, and inside the hallowed chambers of our National assembly for that matter.

    His explanation suggests that he knows Boko Haram or has a fair idea of who the people are. While it looks far fetch to say that he probably has a link to them, the defence of the organization that he gave on the floor of the Senate could only have been made by someone with inner or insider knowledge of Boko Haram.

    Can you recall that President Jonathan once said there are Boko Haram elements/sympathizers in all the three arms of government, including the legislature? Is the distinguish senator representing Yobe east one of those the president was talking about? I am not accusing this gentleman of anything but his comments coming on the heels of his nomination by Boko Haram as one of their negotiators in the proposed peace talk with the Federal Government speak volume about what he knows about these terrorists and on whose side he is.

    While neither holding forte for the security agencies or condoning their excesses no individual or group has the right to bear arms against the state except may be in a situation of war. So, if Boko Haram declared war on Nigeria because they were wronged by agents of the Nigerian State, what should we expect? And if the people continue to harbour Boko Haram because they felt they were unjustly/unfairly treated by agents of government, shouldn’t such a people expect to share from the punishment being meted out to the terrorists? And if the reason Boko Haram took up arms against Nigeria was because of the harsh treatment they received in the hands of agents of Nigeria, why then were they bombing churches, killing Christians and some other innocent Nigerians under the guise of fighting the federal Government? Were these innocent souls also agents of government?

    If anybody had been worried as to how and why a faceless terrorist group like Boko Haram chose Senator Ibrahim and co to negotiate peace with government on their behalf, that person should worry no more. Now we know that these guys are not spirits, they have a face. Now we know who they are and why they are killing us. But who will save us from this terror? These same security agents accused of causing it? I agree that our boys have not behaved very well in this fight against terror, innocent souls have been killed and the authorities need to do something urgently about this. Anyone found guilty among them should be punished. Mr. President are you listening?

  • FG, Boko Haram talks on verge of collapse

    FG, Boko Haram talks on verge of collapse

    • UK bars asylum seekers over sect activities

    • Tells potential applicants to relocate to Southern Nigeria

     

    The Federal Government is on the verge of abandoning dialogue with Boko Haram because the sect has refused to ceasefire, it was learnt last night.

    A senior government official who spoke under the condition of anonymity confided that that the federal government was no longer on the dialogue because the sect has not show sufficient commitment to talks.

    According to the source, the killing of Gen. Mohammed Shuwa also created a major setback for the proposed dialogue.

    This is coming as the United Kingdom Border Agency said that it will not grant any Nigerian asylum because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    It claimed that any Nigerian feeling unsafe in the Northern part of the country could relocate to the South or anywhere outside the trouble spots.

    On the imminent breakdown of talks between the federal government and Boko Haram the source said: “From the look of things, the proposed dialogue is under threat by the refusal of the sect to ceasefire. We are not yet convinced that they wanted us to come to the peace table.

    “The killing of Gen. Shuwa led to a major setback for the dialogue process. The government was sad that a harmless war hero could be killed just like that after he had fought for the unity of this country. And if you observe, there had been pockets of violence too in the North-East in recent weeks.

    “The signs are not yet there that the sect is prepared for peace talks. The Boko Haram leaders have also not reached out to the government outside their official statement. Yet, the government is willing to discuss with the sect.

    “We have not heard any words from Saudi Arabia to ascertain whether the sect had reached out to them to. So, no one knows where and when the talks will hold. Some of those named as peace facilitators like ex-Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, have declined the offer.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “We are suspecting that the ceasefire offer may be a tactical strategy by the sect to consolidate its stronghold. We are also not taking things for granted. Although Boko Haram denied involvement in the killing of Gen Shuwa, the government is not convinced.

    “That is why Nigeria is also teaming up with other ECOWAS members for Mali intervention by the UN Force.”

    Aside its asylum comments, the UK Border agency also noted that corruption is still rampant in the Nigeria Police Force.

    The position of the British Government is contained in the agency’s country report titled “Operational Guidance Note Nigeria.”

    It advised those facing challenges in the Boko Haram enclave to either seek protection from security agencies or move out of the North.

    The document, exclusively obtained by our correspondent, reads in part: “Boko Haram has said it carried out a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009. More than 640 people have died in the country so far in 2012 in attacks blamed on the group.

    “It is thought that some members of Boko Haram have connections with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group already designated as a terrorist organization by the US.

    “Boko Haram says it wants Islamic Shari’a Law in place across Nigeria and analysts suggest it is trying to trigger clashes between Christians and Muslims. A country of 150million people, Nigeria’s population is equally divided between Christians and Muslims.

    “Some applicants may make an asylum and or human rights claim based on the grounds that they are not free to practise their religion and that they would face ill-treatment amounting to persecution. Some applicants may express fear of Shari’a Courts in Northern Nigeria to enforce Shari’a. Some applicants may also fear persecution in the hands of Boko Haram or may fear being caught up in the violence perpetrated by members of Boko Haram.

    “The right to religious freedom is enshrined in the constitution and there are no reports of anyone experiencing problems with the Federal Government in practising their chosen religion.

    “Claims under this category will therefore be clearly unfounded and as such should be certified. Applicants expressing fear of Hisbah groups are able to safely relocate elsewhere in Nigeria where such groups do not operate or have no influence.

    “Claims made on the basis of Hisbah groups are therefore also likely to be clearly unfounded. Applicants claiming asylum in this category are likely to be refused but case owners should remember that each case should be looked at on its individual merits.”

    On the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Britain revealed that it is still riddled with corruption.

    The document says: “Corruption within the Nigeria Police Force is rampant. Commercial drivers pay to go through police roadblocks; suspects pay to be released from custody and detainees pay to improve the conditions of their detention. In 2008, the Presidential Committee acknowledged the severity of the problem.

    “In the course of their duties, some police officers harass and intimidate members of the public. They also go further to extort money from accused persons and complainants before they serve them. Those who do not cooperate usually suffer unlawful arrest and detention.

    “The police routinely solicit bribes from victims to investigate crimes and from suspects to drop investigations.”

     

  • Boko Haram ‘threat letter’ causes panic in Yobe schools

    A “threat letter” by the Boko Haram sect has forced students to vacate their schools in Gashua, Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State.

    Though there was no official confirmation from the school authority, it was learnt that the school has closed down indefinitely following the alleged threat letter.

    Academic activities at the Collage of Education, Gashua, were on Monday paralysed following the circulation of the threat letter, which reportedly hinted of a possible attack on the school.

    Some students told The Nation on phone that copies of the letter were pasted on the school’s notice board and other strategic locations on the campus.

    The letter was said to have warned the students to vacate the school or be burnt with the school.

    Gashua, the capital of Bade Local Government Area, is 187 kilometres north of Damaturu, the state capital.

    It is one of the five major towns in the state.

    There was a similar report that Comprehensive Science Secondary School in Gashua, also got the threat.

    Police Commissioner Patrick Egbuniwe confirmed the incident.

    He said security agencies were aware of the threat letter and were on top of the situation.

    Egbuniwe said the police would deal with any individual or group that might cause violence in the state.

    According to him, the police had tightened security at the school before the threat letter to forestall a possible Boko Haram attack.

    He added that security agencies would ensure the safety of life and property of the residents.

     

  • Boko Haram: Federal Govt has abandoned us —Borno State Govt

    Boko Haram: Federal Govt has abandoned us —Borno State Govt

    The Borno State government has accused the federal government of abandoning it in the face of the security challenges it is facing as a result of the activities of Boko Haram in the state.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr Inuwa Bwala who disclosed this to The Nation in an interview in Abuja at the weekend said no federal political office holder had visited the state to either assess the situation or empathise with the state government and its people.

    According to him, “There has been no visit from the federal side to Borno State. The President and his Vice have refused to come, share in our plight, if at all. They have not given us moral boost or if at all to show that they care and that we are part and parcel of Nigeria. We had been left on our own. For some time, nobody has shown that they really care, nobody has visited to show solidarity with us.”

    Bwala, who disclosed that the highest federal government team to the states were made up of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Chief of Defence Staff, lamented that the federal government is not treating the state as part of the federation.

    “I am not just saying it. That is the fact. We have been left on our own. We have been left to our plight as if we are not part of Nigeria. That has been our grouse against the federal government,” he said.

    The Information Commissioner disclosed that members of the ruling party in the state have been the victims of attacks since the security challenges started. “I have said it time and time again that criminals and political assassins have penetrated Boko Haram. They started with their grievances but somehow along the line, they have been hijacked by opportunists. That is why the greatest number of people that have been killed today are from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). If not, I don’t see how people from the other political parties are roaming the streets but we in ANPP are being compelled to take cover.”

    Bwala said contrary to the impression being created that Borno State is not working, the state, he said, is moving on. “The markets are open, banks are open, work is going on, normal activities are going on, flights come into Maiduguri and leave fully booked everyday. It is just that some of the people spreading things about Borno do not know what is happening there. They don’t live there. They only peddle what they imagine is happening. Life is going on in Maiduguri. Government is working, people go to work. The situation in Maiduguri is not different from the situation in any other place where this crisis had happened and we are on top of it,” he said.

    To buttress his claim that the state is working, Bwala said, “You may have heard of the agriculture revolution which we started. We have vast underground water, we have vast arable land, we have a willing population. Because of this, the government said that agriculture, which is the mainstay of our economy, shall be the fulcrum of our agenda. That is why we are importing farm implements. As it is, we have imported over one thousand tractors which we have distributed across the state. We have brought in seedlings. Over 50 million varieties of crops. We are exploring the possibilities of modern poultry, modern cattle rearing, and other agricultural activities. Fish farming has been the tradition of our people along the Lake Chad shores, it is still going on. Government has mapped out strategies of encouraging them by giving out loans and buying what they have as surpluses to sell to Nigerians.”

    He advised both indigenes and settlers in the state that fled as a result of security challenges, to return as government is on top of the security situation.

    The Information commissioner disclosed that the leaders of thought, opinion leaders and Borno State government are working round the clock to engage the boys and shift their minds from crimes and criminal activities.

    Bwala said beyond the issue of religion, it has been discovered that some political elements are using Boko Haram to settle personal scores.

  • CPC rejects Buhari’s nomination by Boko Haram

    CPC rejects Buhari’s nomination by Boko Haram

    MORE dust is being raised over fundamentalist sect Boko Haram’s talks offer to end insurgency and killings.

    The nomination of Gen. Mohammed Buhari, among others, to moderate the sect’s talks, was yesterday rejected by his party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    The Anglican Church of Nigeria, also yesterday, joined Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Ayo Oritsejafor to fault the talks proposal.

    To Primate Nicholas Okoh, it is all a journey to nowhere. It will not be effective, he said.

    In President Goodluck Jonathan’s view, which was expressed also yesterday, the Boko Haram sect and its sponsors are primitive.

    Dr. Jonathan, who spoke in Dutse, Jigawa State, noted that taking people’s lives, especially innocent ones, through terrorism is itself primitive; hence, perpetrators and sponsors of the sect are uncivilised.

    He urged Nigerians to totally condemn terrorism, killings by the group are unjustifiable. Besides, the President said, Nigerians should assist the authorities to check the trend which he described as inimical to development.

    The President praised the people of Jigawa State for maintaining peace, despite the violence within the Northeast geo-political zone.

    Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu cautioned the government against talking with a “faceless group”.

    Aliyu, who is Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), spoke in Minna, the state capital, when he received ‘’The Road map for Peace Unity and Development of Northern Nigeria’’, prepared by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

    Aliyu said: “We should know who we are talking to; we should not allow 419 people to hijack the process.

    ‘’We should confirm who we are dealing with; we should talk to them but we should talk only to genuine people.”

    The CPC advised Gen. Buhari to reject his nomination by the Boko Haram sect as a mediator in proposed negotiations.

    National Chairman Tony Momoh gave the advice in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Gen. Buhari contested the 2011 election on the party’s ticket.

    “There is no need for any other person to attend a meeting between the Federal Government and Boko Haram for whatever grievances they say they have.

    “We in the CPC do not see where Buhari comes in; we are concerned by the way the name of Gen. Buhari is being dragged into this affair,” Momoh said, adding:

    “Another thing is that nobody reached out to Gen. Buhari to say they have been nominated or is being nominated along with others, to mediate or be witnesses to discussion between Boko Haram and the Federal Government.”

    Momoh said Buhari had not told anybody or the party that he was interested in the nomination. Besides, he said the CPC would not associate with issues that involved criminality.

    He said what was important was for the government to maintain “true democracy” by providing adequate security and welfare to the citizens.

    “We believe in one country, which must remain together and move together in the direction of peace, justice and fair play,” Momoh said.

    According to him, the abuse of the democratic system is the result of some challenges confronting the country.

    “Any abuse of this democracy is unjust,” he said, adding:

    “We have chosen a two-legged approach: democracy and social justice; and we want to achieve social justice by using a system of government called democracy.

    “All hands must be on deck’’ to tackle corruption,” he said.

    The Archbishop, Metropolitan Primate Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Revd Okoh, described the Boko Haram sect as a “faceless mafia.”

    Speaking at the Second Edition of the Divine Commonwealth Conference in Abuja, Rev. Okoh said the “Christian faith is something which must be defended.

    “Every Christian is a defender of this faith . Every Christian of every generation must defend it. It is the duty of every generation to pass it on uncorrupted and unperverted,” he said, adding:

    “There is scarcely a common understanding of how to begin to approach the advance of violent Islam- some canvass fire-for-fire approach; others believe that good Christians must continue praying and even try to preach to the Muslims to change them; meanwhile, the killing and Muslim advance continue unchecked. In between the two extremes are those who believe in dialogue and seminars. Unfortunately, Boko Haram is a faceless mafia, which makes this proposition merely academic, and non-effectual.”

    According to the Archbishop, Boko Haram has stated that it wants to weed Christianity out of Northern Nigeria .

    While Executing its mission, the sect, said Okoh, has been bombing, shooting, slaughtering and maiming Christians.

    He added that due to the violence, many Christians have become intimidated and relocated to other places.

    He lamented that “Our dioceses in Maiduguri, Damaturu, Kano, Bauchi, Yola, Zaria, Jos, among other are, now drastically depopulated.”

     

    The onslaught against the Christian faith, said Okoh, transcends Nigeria as violent religious extremists, such as the ones in Nigeria, are now spreading to other African countries as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

    He recalled that in Dare es Salaam, Tanzania, seven churches were burnt by Muslims on the excuse that a boy urinated near a mosque.

    According to Rev. Okoh, Kenya and Uganda churches have at various times been attacked by the extremist al-Shabaab Islamic group, very active in East Africa.

    The Archbishop also noted that Kenya is executing a full military campaign against this sect.

    Rev. Okoh said: “The situation in the Sudan is complex and complicated. The Islam of Sudan is a fundamentalist brand, and there is a high traffic between that country, Nigeria, Kenya and other neighbouring countries. In addition to all this, there is the fluid situation in Egypt under the Muslim brotherhood as well as the boiling situation in Libya.

    “Again, Nigeria is exposed. Apart from all this, the Twareg rebels in North Mali have added to the threatening situation against Christianity. They have formed a group, Movement for Jihad in West Africa, which openly threatened Nigeria, should it send troops to intervene in the Mali situation in Mali.”

     

  • Boko Haram: Why govt should listen to Amnesty

    Boko Haram: Why govt should listen to Amnesty

    Last week, I promised the reader I will devote today’s column entirely to some of the reactions provoked by my piece of the week before on the controversial “personal” history of Biafra by Chinua Achebe which he titled There was a country.

    However, man, it is said, merely proposes but it’s only God who disposes. God, apparently, disposed through two terrible events of last two weeks that my promise would have to keep for another week. The first was the gruesome suicide bombing of St Rita’s Catholic Church, Unguwan Yero, Kaduna, on October 28 in which at least 30 worshippers lost their lives and hundreds more lost their limbs or were maimed.

    It was indeed a miracle that the casualties were not higher considering the number of worshippers who assembled that day and the suicide bomber’s (assuming he was alone in the vehicle) apparent desperation in ramming his way into the church yard through the perimeter fence that terrible Sunday morning.

    It was my typical Sunday morning; rising late and taking eternity to have my bath. I was sitting on the toilet seat a little after 9 am when I heard a huge rumbling sound like I’ve never heard before. At the same time, I felt the house shake as if the roof and the wall were going to cave in.

    Madam, who was in the bedroom, shouted “Baba, what is it?” Of course, I didn’t know what it was but somehow I restrained myself from rushing out, especially since the kaboom was not followed by any physical destruction. However, while still in the toilet I kept thinking what could have caused such a huge sound. In quick succession I dismissed the possibility of the rock breakers across the road from my house using dynamite and the other possibility that the transformer serving our neighbourhood had blown up.

    In the end, I concluded it must have been a bomb, even as I prayed to God fervently that it shouldn’t. My prayers were answered in the negative when shortly after my bath one of my kids came to tell us that the online media had been reporting that it was the suicide bombing of a church at Unguwan Yero.

    My heart sank just imagining what the casualty would be like; if my house which must be at least two kilometres away from the church as the crow flies, could be shaken to its foundation by the bomb I shuddered to think what could have been the fate of those in and around it.

    Terrible as the number of those killed and injured was, it was, indeed, a miracle that the mayhem was not far worse by the time the rubbles had settled.

    Predictably, the story grabbed the headlines of the media the following day. Equally predictably, virtually all fingers pointed at the usual suspect: Boko Haram.

    This time, however, the security forces acted with unusual dispatch to avert any retaliatory attacks. But even more importantly, in my view at least, the Christian leadership in Kaduna, especially those of the Catholic fold – that of the affected church even more so – acted with greatest restrain in calling on their, no doubt, angry flock not to seek revenge.

    As far as I know, Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility for the attack but it has remained the principal suspect.

    All this was Sunday October 28.

    Then last Friday came another shocker. I was about rounding up my lecture to my post graduate diploma students at the Samaru campus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, when a call came through from a former very senior government official and a senior friend. During class I normally leave my phone on silent and pick up a call only when I think it might be important. This was one such call. So I excused myself and answered my phone.

    I had not spoken to the gentleman since dropping a document for him a few days before. So I thought he was calling to confirm receipt. He did confirm receipt but his next words shocked me to the marrow.

    “Sorry about Shuwa,” he said. “What has happened to him?”, I asked nonplussed. Didn’t I hear he had been killed that morning?, he asked.

    That ended my class that evening. Apparently, my students too had not heard. They were all shocked when I told them the news, half of which they must’ve guessed from the way my voice and countenance changed. Their shock was not surprising because more than half the class were old enough to have heard some of the probably apocryphal exploits of the (79 year old) general during our civil war of 1967 to 1970. To think that such a person who had survived a war and served his country well would be killed like a chicken by assassins who were probably young enough to be his grandchildren right in front of his house!

    If their shock at the manner of the man’s death did not surprise me, the way they all chorused that “dis one pass Boko Haram,” surprised, even shocked me, the more so because there were more Christians in the class than Muslims.

    My students are certainly not a representative sample of this country’s population. But it sounds sensible to me that if only one Christian would begin to wonder if there is not more to the bombings of churches and the killings of Christians – never mind the bombings of public buildings and the killing of security agents, serving or retired – than Boko Haram insurrections, one can be forgiven the thought that the official mantra about Boko Haram being behind each and every one of these bombings and killings needs a fundamental re-thinking.

    No doubt Boko Haram is real. And its methods are despicable and certainly counter-productive to its objective, to which it is entitled, of Islamising Nigeria. As it knows all too well the Qur’an makes it very clear that there is no force in religion.

    However, it has been said again and again that Boko Haram has since become a franchise used by criminals, and for all we know, rogue elements in government and the security services for their own ends. This is one good reason why government must rethink its scorched earth strategy to bring an end to the insecurity that has pervaded this country.

    The scorched earth policy has not worked and it will not work because it can only worsen the very vicious circle of violence which the extrajudicial killing of the Boko Haram leadership back in 2009 unleashed on the hapless citizens of our dear country.

    If only because government has control over the official instruments of violence, it has the greater responsibility for ending this vicious circle. It can start by listening to what Amnesty International said last week about how the public, especially in the theatre of the Boko Haram insurrection, has come to fear and loath our security forces more than the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Unless we have a strategy of more carrots and fewer sticks employed by government, the country could, God forbid, slide into an anarchy of bombings and counter-bombings and high profile killings along religious lines.

     

  • Boko Haram: SSS warns Senator

    Detectives visited Senator Ahmed Khalifa Zanna’s home yesterday, The Nation learnt.

    Also, operatives visited the Senator’s home yesterday but met it under lock and key.

    Zanna is being questioned after the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram Commander, Shuaib Mohammed Bama, at his residence in Maiduguri.

    There were indications that the Senator might have gone underground for fear of attacks.

    After initial interaction with the Senator on Monday, the State Security Service (SSS) asked him to report for a second round of interrogation by 11am yesterday.

    It was gathered that the SSS investigating team waited for many hours without seeing the Senator or receiving a call from him on why he could not honour the appointment.

    Zanna, however, turned up at about 6.20pm.

    A source said: “We waited for several hours for the Senator but he refused to honour the 11am appointment.

    “When the Senator did not come as expected, we sent a team of operatives to his house but the residence was found locked. He also became incommunicado from morning till about 6.20pm.

    “We asked our operatives to visit Zanna’s residence out of concern for his safety and health. When he appeared before us on Monday, he was behaving sickly after sitting for many hours.

    “It got to a point that our operatives had to assist him to get up after we finished the first strand of investigation.

    “But at about 6.20pm, he came to the SSS Headquarters without any genuine excuse. We told him that the SSS does not interrogate in the night.

    “We warned him to respect this agency because the issue at stake is about a security challenge facing the nation. We are not ready to tolerate this type of attitude. Courtesy demands that he should either send a text or an emissary to the SSS if he won’t be able to keep to time. We have asked him to report by 11am on Wednesday (today).

    “We still want to treat him with respect; we will give him time to report to the SSS again for a follow-up session on the statement he raised.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “He raised many issues and left a lot of gaps to be filled. He said the Boko Haram commander was not arrested in his house but we have a report from the JTF and the suspect is also in custody to confirm the veracity or otherwise of his claim.

    “He also levelled some allegations against ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff, who disputed the Senator’s claim.

    “The Senator admitted that there are three types of Boko Haram. We want him to expatiate on this.”

    Zanna said last Sunday: “There are three types of Boko Haram. The political Boko Haram is there, that is ex-Governor Modu Sheriff’s own. And that is why I don’t take my security lightly. The actual Boko Haram is there. And there are some who are chipping in and claiming to be Boko Haram, harassing people and extorting money from them.”